Advocacy is the heart of PTA

Since it began in 1897, National PTA has been a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Washington State PTA (WSPTA) began in 1905 and was instrumental in many issues, from creating preschool to promoting seat belts.

For more information about our PTA history and founders: History - WSPTA (wastatepta.org)

WSPTA Legislative Assembly

The purpose of legislative assembly is to determine the legislative priorities of Washington State PTA (WSPTA), to educate and mobilize advocates, and to advance WSPTA’s legislative program.

At legislative assembly, you will discover the power PTA has to advocate for every child – the whole child – regardless of race, creed, gender, or zip code. In PTA, every member has an equal voice, and your input matters a great deal to the success of WSPTA's member-driven platform.

October 18-19, 2025

PTA Vision and Mission

Our vision is that every child’s potential becomes a reality.

Our mission is for PTA to be:

A powerful voice for children,
A relevant resource for families, schools, and communities, and
A strong advocate for the well-being and education of all children.

WSPTA Legislative Platform

The WSPTA legislative platform consists of:

Legislative Principles: broad conceptual policy objectives that align with our mission and are the foundational basis for our overall platform (long-term). Legislative Principles (wastatepta.org)

Resolutions: positions that guide our work from the local to the state level, are usually broader in scope than legislative issues, and generally have a call for action (long-term). Resolutions (wastatepta.org)

Legislative Issues: statewide positions that will receive the focus of our advocacy efforts in Olympia (short-term). Advocacy (wastatepta.org)

The 2025-26 Top 5 legislative priorities are:

Closing the Funding Gaps
Addressing Student Mental Health Crisis
Addressing Funding, Inclusion, and Supports in Special Education
Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
Expanding School Construction Funding Options

Also Supported issues (listed alphabetically):

Increasing Educational Equity by Closing the Digital Divide
Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Climate Change

WSPTA Legislative Assembly 2021

This year’s Legislative Assembly will be held in October and is currently being planned. Dates, agenda, and voting information to come!

2021 National PTA LegCon Report

Washington State PTA members embraced the 2021 virtual format for National PTA’s annual Legislative Conference (LegCon). The conference began March 9. Of the over 800 attendees, 58 were from local PTAs here in Washington state, including two students. For some, the event was their first experience with federal advocacy. See the full report here: 2021 National PTA LegCon Report - WSPTA (wastatepta.org)